Can sorting machine



June 24, 1952 Filed Jan. 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet .l

INVENTOR [0:22. I Goodban ATTORNEYS June 24, 1952 w. T. GOODBAN 2,601,514

CAN SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR wm. T Goodba 12 BY 45, 44.21 mi ATTORNEYS June 24, 1952 w. T. GOODBAN 2,601,514

CAN SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR 46 ZJUm Z Goaaban ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. T. GOODBAN CAN SORTING MACHINE June 24, 1952 Filed Jan. 21, 1948 I II QVENTQR ZUmTGoaaban ATTORNEYS Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to cannery machinery.

In applying labels to round cans, which is done by automatic equipment, there are some cans which are skipped and remain bare, being known as shiners. On other cans. the. label ends. do not adhere .and extend loose from the cans, the latter then being known as. flappers.

It is an object of this invention to provide. a machine for automatically sorting the shiners and fiappers from the cans delivered from the labeling equipment; thus eliminating the necessity of manual segregation of improperly labeled cans.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can sorting machine, as above, which includes a runway for a row of cans moving from the labeling equipment, and a gate in. said runway adapted, to. be opened to segregate improperly labeled. cans from such row; the gate being: electrically controlled from a novel detector assembly and control circuit associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can sorting machine, for the purpose described, wherein said detector assembly is arranged to detect shiners by electrical contact of a switch element with the bare metal surface of the can, and to detect flappers by mechanical engagement of a switch operating trigger or whisker with the free and projecting label end.

An additional object of the invention is. to provide a can sorting machine, for the. detection and segregation of shiners or'flappers, which is practical and reliable in its structure and operation, and yet which willbe exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a. perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the can sorting machine, exclusive of the wiring of the control circuit.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine.

Fig. I is an enlarged fragmentary cross section at the gate, and ShOWiIlg the operating mechu anism therefor.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section showing the. circuit control rotor.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the control circuit.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary diagram of the conmain frame indicated generally at I, which frame supports a gravity fed runway 2 adapted to receive a row of cans 3 as delivered from the labeling equipment (not shown). The row of cans 3. travels by gravity down the runway 2, passingduring the course of such travelbelow a detector assembly, indicated generally at 4', and which assembly is hereinafter described in detail. Beyond the detector assembly the runway 2, which includes facing, transversely spaced angle irons, as shown, has a can gate, indicated generally at 5. This gate 5- is normally closed, and so long as the cans 3 are properly labeled they pass over said gate 5 and continue down the runway 2 for normal disposition.

However, should a shiner or flapper in the row of cans 3 pass below the detector assembly 4, the gate 5 is automatically opened, at the proper moment, to drop such shiner or flapper out of the row downwardly into a rejected can chute 6 which receives from said gate.

The gate 5 comprises downwardly and outwardly swingable gate plates 1 fixed on. longitudinal actuating shafts 8 journaled exteriorly on opposite sides of the runway; each such shaft having an outwardly projecting radial arm 9. Links l0, corresponding to said radial arms 9, are pivotally connected between the same and opposite ends of a double-ended bellcrank ll journaled on a shaft I2 in the main frame I. The double-ended bellcrank l l is adapted to be swung in a manner to open the gate plates 9, through the described connections, by means of a solenoid l3 mounted in an enclosure M on the main frame. The solenoid 13 includes a vertical plunger l5 normally in raised position, and pivotally connected, at its upper end, in operative relation to the bellcrank II. The normal position of the plunger I5 is shown in full lines in. Fig. 4, whereas the actuated end gate opening position of said plunger is shown in dotted lines in such figure.

Through the medium of a control circuit between the detector assembly 4 and solenoid Hi, the gate 5 is opened to pass improperly labeled cans which said assembly detects.

The detector assembly 4 comprises a longitudinal bar It supported from the main frame I centrally above the runway 2, and at sufficien't height to clear the row of cans 3 which moves down the runway.

At the end of the bar It adjacent the gate 5 there is a depending metallic contact wiper I! which is flexible and resilient; such wiper sweeping each can 3 as it passes, but making electrical contact only with the shiners; this for the reason that a properly labeled can is insulated from the wiper I! by the paper label.

Rearwardly of. the contact wiper I! the bar. l6 of the detector assembly includes a plurality, here four in number, of depending triggers or whiskers I8 spaced apart substantially the diameter of the cans 3 which pass therebelow. These depending triggers I8 are each connected in actuating relation to a normally open, sensitive type or microswitch IS; the triggers terminating at their lower ends clear of the path of the cans, but adjacent thereto. If a flapper, with a free and. projecting label end, passes below the detector assembly 4,'

"with the contact wiper I? andtrigger actuated switches I9, the following arrangement:

Directly rearwardly of but closely adjacent, the

' gate the frame I is fitted with a rotatable cross shaft 2 I, having thereon a pair of matching shaft actuating spiders 22, each having four projecting legs in equally spaced relation. The spiders 22 project into the runway 2 so that with passage of the gravity-fed row of cans 3, each can causes a quarter-turn of said spiders 22 and the cross shaft 2| Further, as each can leaves the spiders it delivers immediately onto the gate 5.

At one end thereof the cross shaft 2| is fitted with a circuit control rotor 23 whose purposes will hereinafter appear; such control rotor turning in the same quarter-turn relationship, with the passage of each can, as the spiders 22.

The gate-operated solenoid I 3 is wired with its coil in a'main energizing circuit 24, which circuit includes the normally open primary switch 25 of'a relay 25; the leads of the main energizing circuit connecting to electrical supply or input lines 21, which latter couple also to a transformer 28. The relay 26 has its coil 29 interposed in a relay energizing circuit which comprises one lead 30 leading from the transformer to one side of the coil 25, and a ground lead 3I extending from the opposite side of said coil. The ground lead 3| is branched, as at 32, with one branch 33 leading to the contact wiper Ii, while another branch 35 leads to a brush 35. A ground lead 36 connects the transformer on the side, opposite the lead 33, to ground. It will thus be seen that upon grounding of the lead 3| the relay energizing circuit will be energized from the transformer 28.

When a shiner travels down the runway 2 and is about to leave the spiders 22, such shiner is brushed by the contact Wiper IT, grounding the branch 33 and lead 3!, completing the relay energizing circuit. When this occurs the coil 23 closes the switch 25, whereupon the main circuit 24 is energized, causing the solenoid I 3 to respond and open the gate 5. Thus, as the shiner leaves the spiders 22 it drops through the open gate 5 and runs down the can chute 6.

In order to maintain the gate 5 open a sufficient time to permit of the passage of a rejected .shiner, and for a predetermined time after the contact wiper l'I breaks engagement with said can, the following holding circuit is'employed:

The relay 2% includes a normally open secondary switch 3? operative simultaneously with the switch 25, and said secondary switch 3'! is interposed in a holding circuit 38 extending from the ground lead 3i to a brush 39 mounted to work on the periphery of the circuit control rotor 23 and for electrical engagement with an annular row of circumferentially spaced segmental contacts 40, which contacts are relatively long and of equal length, being spaced apart at the ends. The segmental contacts 46 are each circumferentially located on the circuit control rotor 23 so that the brush 39 breaks from each segmental contact only after a corresponding can has reached the gate, but before the next can gains such point.

The segmental contacts 40 are grounded, as at M, whereby once the relay energizing circuit closes the primary switch 25, with resultant simultaneous closing of the secondary switch 31, the holding circuit 38 maintains said relay energizing circuit closed for a predetermined period and until the brush 39 runs off the then engaged segmental contact 45. When this occurs the relay energizing circuit is broken; the coil 29 deenergizes; the switches 25 and 31 open; and

the solenoid I3 releases the gate 5 to'return to its' normally closed position.

' The above description relates to the operation of the circuit when a shiner is being rejected, and there is now described the operation of the circuit for the detection'and rejection of a flapper.

'The circuit control rotor 23 is hollow and includes therein, in suitably supported and insulated relation, four control switch units, each indicated generally at 42, and which control switch units correspond to certain ones of the switches I9. 7

As these control switch unit are identical, 2. description of one will suflice for all.

Each such control switch unit 42 includes a spring metal switch blade 43 which radiates from the shaft 2|, with the outer end portion of such switch blade disposed between a pair of contacts, indicated at 44 and45; The switch blade 43 tend to close toward the contact 45, but is normally maintained in engagement with the contact 44 by an in-the-way tapered cam head 45 on the normally advanced plunger 4'! of a solenoid 48 fixed in the rotor 23, with said plunger parallel to the axis thereof.

The contact 44 is connected by a lead 49 to one side of the solenoid 48, while the other side of said solenoid is connected by a lead 50 to a corresponding one of an annular row of circumferentially spaced segmental contacts 5| on the periphery of the rotor.

The contact 45 is connected by a lead 52 with V a corresponding one of an annular row of circumferentially spaced, relatively short segmental contacts 53 likewise on the periphery of the rotor 23; the rows of segmental contacts 40, 5|, and 53 being in axially spaced relation. Brushes 54, corresponding in number to the switches I 9, and connected to one side thereof by leads 55, are disposed in equally spaced relation about the rotor 23 for electrical engagement with the segmental contacts 5 I The branch 34 of the grounding lead 3| of the relay energizing circuit is, as previously described, connected to the brush 35, and the latter is positioned at the top of the rotor 23 to successively electrically engage the segmental contacts 53.

When a flapper travels below the detector assembly 4, the free label end 25 will engage and swing at least one of the depending triggers l8, closing the corresponding switch I9. When this occurs the corresponding lead 55 is connected, by said closed switch, with an energizing lead 55 which leads to one terminal of the transformer, Whose other terminal is grounded, as at 36'. At

I the same, time the co esponding. brush 5.4 is running on. one of the segmental contacts. 51. This. completes a. circuit through. the corresponding solenoid 48,. as the switch blade 43 of the corresponding control switch unit 42 is then in engagement. with the contact. 44 to provide the ground connection. Upon said solenoid 48 beingenergized its plunger 41 retracts the tapered cam head 45 so that the switch blade 43 snaps clear of the. contact 44 into engagement with the contact 45, as shown in Fig. 71 At the moment this occurs there is no reaction of the gate until the segmental contact 53 reaches the top of the rotor, at which time the flapper has progressed to a point for discharge onto the gate 5. W-hen said corresponding segmental contact 40 makes electrical engagement with the brush 35, the ground lead 3| is grounded through the branch 34 and brush 35 to said segmental contact 53,

which in' turn grounds through the contact. 45

and blade 43, as also shown in Fig. 7.

With'such grounding of the lead 31, the relay energizing circuit functions to cause closing of the switch of relay 26. When this occurs the gate 5 opens in the manner heretofore described, and thehol'din circuit 38 likewise functions, as previously described, to maintain the relay energizing circuit. closed for a predetermined time 'suflicient to assure of passage of the flapper through the open gate, and even after the brush w runs clear of the previously engaged segmental contact 53.

T qio 2 w th h des b d ol swit u i 42 the n des a imeymet nisni, responsive to any one of the triggers l8 and switches IQ, but affording delay of closing of the relay energizing circuit until the flapper reaches the; gate 5. It is of course requisite that e e en l c tact l0 1' an 53 l be: os tionedon the rotor 23 in predetermined circumfer ential relation corresponding to the position of cans passing underthe detector assembly 4.

With. the described arrangement any one of the triggers I8 can be operated by a. flapper, causing a response by the corresponding control switch unit 42, which latter, in combination with the described segmental contact arrangement, timedelays operation of the relay energizing circuit until the flapper, which operated said trigger,

reaches the gate 5; the rotor 23 turning all the time, with passage of a row of cans 3, a quartertum to each can.

After one of the control switch units 48 has been actuated to reject a flapper, and after passage of said unit beyond top dead-center, a roller 51 on the frame engages an end stem 58 of the solenoid 48, re-advancing it to starting position, whereupon the tapered cam head 46 engages the spring switch blade 43, moving it from the contact back to the contact 44 for the next operation.

As the row of cans on the runway 2 is gravity fed, and as the spiders 22 are turned by said gravity fed cans, it is desirable that means be provided to brake the cross shaft 2| when the load of cans on the runway becomes less than normal. To this end a longitudinal brake bar 59 is disposed below the runway 2 directly ahead of the cross shaft 2|; said brake bar 59 being hinged, intermediate its ends, as at 60, but adjacent the cross shaft 2 i At its forward end the brake bar 59 includes a curved shoe 6| which rides said cross shaft, and a spring 82 urges the brake bar 59 upwardly from its opposite end, tending to set the shoe 6| in holding relation on the cross shaft 21.1; such. opposite. end. of; the. bar having an upward offset 63 which extends intorthe path. of cans. on the runway some, distance. to. the rear of the; cross shaft 21.. Normally, when. the row of cans is; of sufficient length, the cans riding: the off-set 5-3. depress the brake bar 59: against the spring: 82;, whereby to hold. the shoe 5!: released. However, when the number of. cans is such. that none thereof ride the offset 63., the brake; bar 59 is urged upwardlyby the spring 62 to set the. shoe iii in braking relation to the shaft 2 I...

can. sorting: machine as described provides a smooth functioning, practical and reliable apparatus for the automatic detection. and; segregation of improperly labeled cans as fed. from labeling equipment. in a cannery.

From the foregoing. description it will be readily seen that there 'has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such. detail may be resorted to as do not form. av departure from. the spirit of theinvention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and: upon which Letters Patent are desired:

IQA can sorting machine for detecting and sorting cans, from: row thereof, which are not properly labeled, said machine comprising a frame having a runway along which the rowof cans travels, a can rejection gate in the runway, electric: power means connected to the gate to open the same, a control circuit for the electric power means, a detector assemblymounted ahead of and adjacent the row of cans, said detector assembly including a longitudinal rowof spaceddetector-t iggers projecting toward the row of cans, said triggers being adapted to be engaged and moved by free or flapping endsof labeis on. cans rolling along the runway; a cross shaft journaled adjacent the path of the row of cans, a spider on the shaft projecting into said path whereby the passage of each can turns the shaft a part turn, a contact rotor on the shaft, a plurality of normally open control switch units in the rotor corresponding to said trigger actuated switches, solenoids in the rotor connected to corresponding control switch units to close the same, each of the control switch units being adapted to close a portion of the control circuit, an actuating circuit for each solenoid including the corresponding trigger actuated switch, and a segmental contact relatively positioned on the rotor for engagement by a fixed brush as each can passes below the corresponding trigger whereby, if said trigger is engaged and moved, to cause closing of the corresponding trigger actuated switch whereupon the solenoid actuates the related control switch unit to close the aforesaid portion of the control circuit, and time-delay means in the control circuit acting to delay closing of a completing portion of the same, after closing of any control switch unit, until the detected can reaches a predetermined point adjacent the gate.

2. A can sorting machine, as in claim 1, in which said time-delay means in the control circuit comprises other segmental contacts circumferentially spaced on the rotor in predetermined positions relative to the position of cans on the runway, and a brush mounted to engage the corresponding one of said other segmental contacts as a detected can reaches said predetermined point adjacent the gate.

3. A can sorting machine, as in claim 1, including a holding circuit associated with the control circuit operative to maintain the same against opening for a predetermined time after its closing; said holding circuit including third segmental contacts on the rotor corresponding to said control switch units, and a brush mounted to successively engage said third segmental contacts; the latter being positioned on the rotor in predetermined relation to cans on the runway.

4. A can sorting machine, as in claim 1, in which each control switch unit includes a spring blade and opposed contacts; the blade when in engagement with one contact closing a portion of the corresponding solenoid actuating circuit, and when in engagement with the other contact closing said portion of the control circuit.

5. A can sorting machine, as in claim 1, in which each control switch unit includes a spring blade and opposed contacts; the blade when in engagement with one contact closing a portion of the corresponding solenoid actuating circuit, and when in engagement with the other contact closing said portion of the control circuit; the spring blade of each control switch unit tending to move into engagement with said other contact, and the corresponding solenoid having a plunger cam normally holding the spring blade in engagement with said one contact.

6. In a can sorting machine having a gravity runway for a row of cans and a spider projecting into the path of movement of the cans and including a cross shaft below the running and radial fingers on the shaft each adapted to project in turn between adjacent cans upon rotation vof the spider by gravity movement of the cans along the runway; a means to brake the shaft when fewer than a predetermined number of cans are on the runway ahead of the spider, such brake means comprising a brake bar hinged intermediate its ends beneath the runway, a brake shoe on one end of the bar engageable with the 8 shaft, a yieldable member normally acting against the other end of the bar and tending to hold the shoe against the shaft and the opposite end in the path of the cans on the runway, the weight of cans moving over said opposite end of the bar being effective to hold the brake shoe out of engagement with the shaft.

7. A can sorting machine comprising a runway for rolling cans along a definite path, a bar supported above the runway and in substantial parallelism therewith, a plurality of normally open switches supported on the bar and spaced apart longitudinally thereof, a dependent trigger on each switch eifective to close the switch upon actuation of the trigger, such triggers being separate from each other and projecting to a point closely adjacent but spaced slightly from the plane of the upper sides of cans moved along said runway so as to be in position for engagement and switch closing movement by a flapping label on a can, can ejection means associated with the runway, and electric power operated means effective to operate said can ejection means and including an operating circuit which includes said switches in parallel.

WILLIAM T. GOODBAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,510,616 Wild -QOct. 7, 1924 1,921,577 Nelson Aug. 8, 1933 2,228,560 Cox Jan. 14, 1941 2,264,621 Cox Dec. 2, 1941 2,270,428 Flint Jan. 20, 1942 2,339,638 Henszey Jan. 18, 1944 2,368,796 Ardell Feb. 6, 1945 2,560,737 Polmer July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 591,673 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1947 

